FORTVILLE — The entire season came down to one penalty kick with five minutes remaining in regulation, and it was the Pendleton Heights girls soccer team on the losing end.
A questionable call against Kristen Sylvester gave New Palestine the free shot and led to a 2-1 Dragons victory in the Mount Vernon Sectional championship on Saturday evening.
Sylvester appeared to make a clean, aggressive play against New Palestine’s Jessica Box, but she was called for a penalty. Box kicked it to the far right and scored easily after PH freshman goalkeeper Kinzie Davis dove left.
Arabians’ head coach Brian Simpson was visibly upset with the call, but refused to comment on it.
However, when PH looks back on this match, it will probably be more disappointed with missed opportunities in the second half than anything else.
After the Dragons tied the score at 1-1 in the 57th minute, the Arabians missed a couple of clean looks.
“Their defense was solid, but in the second half we had two or three shots that we just barely missed and should have gone in,” Simpson said. “We had our opportunities. I know we outshot them. We had quality shots, and they made some saves, but there was a couple of times that the ball bounced around and we just couldn’t find the back of the net.”
PH had defeated the Dragons 2-1 during the regular season in a heated Hoosier Heritage Conference match. New Palestine head coach Dana Merrick said the film from that match helped his team beat the Arabians on Saturday.
“We dissected that (film) on Friday, and I really think that helped give the girls confidence they could beat them,” he said. “We didn’t play well against them before because Pendleton is a strong, strong team. Tonight was our night.”
The teams had been evenly matched for most of the first half, with a single play separating them on the scoreboard. The Arabians’ Kaitlan Wiles ran after a ball on the New Palestine side of the field and quickly closed in on the goalkeeper. After Amanda Curry dove on top of the ball, it squirted away from her, leaving Wiles all alone for the goal.
Other than that, there were very few scoring opportunities for either club. The Dragons managed just one shot on goal in the half while PH had three. Most of the action took place near midfield because neither defense gave up any sort of edge.
“All season we’ve been hard to score on,” Merrick said. “It’s been our offense. Tonight the offense came through and got us the goal we needed.
“Our defense is extremely quick, and they rely on each other to back each other up.”
PH will lose six seniors next season, but Simpson was confident his younger players will step up. He said this season has been positive for the program, and he believes the future is bright.
Sports
Arabians lose in girls soccer sectional final
- Sports
-
-
Pendleton Heights falls to Roncalli in regional
Sometimes an intentional walk is more than just four balls thrown from the pitcher to the catcher.
On Tuesday night, it was the difference in the Class 4A, Regional as Roncalli scored the game-winning run in a 3-0 victory over Pendleton Heights on a wild pitch during an intentional walk to North Carolina-bound star Kendra Lynch in the sixth inning at Legends Field in Pendleton. -
AU men's basketball coach resigns
Anderson University head men’s basketball coach Tom Slyder recently resigned to accept a position as the men’s basketball coach at North Park University in Chicago, Ill.
North Park is an NCAA Division III school that competes in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW). -
Triumphant Tribe
Seventeen years of frustration and disappointment for the Anderson Indians baseball team ended in a jubilant dog pile atop junior pitcher Curtis Wilson on Monday night at Pendleton Heights’ Field of Dreams.
-
Argylls squeeze into crown
Madison-Grant coach Ben Rodriguez liked his squeeze play so much that he called it again in the pivotal inning of the Class 2A, Sectional 39 championship game at Eastern High School on Monday night in Greentown.
-
Bulldogs’ comeback falls just short
Not even a heroic seventh-inning rally could save the Lapel baseball team in the Class 2A sectional title game at Frankton on Monday afternoon. The Bulldogs scored four runs in the seventh inning but still came up a run short as the Wapahani Raiders won the championship 9-8.
-
Tribe rallies past Pendleton Heights into final
This is the stuff of legend.
The kind of game that defines a rivalry.
The kind of victory that breathes new life into a program.
And the kind of defeat that won’t ever be forgotten. -
George Bremer: In with Orton, out of Luck?
There really is no offseason anymore in the National Football League.
The Indianapolis Colts haven’t played a game since Jan. 1, but look at all the headlines they’ve generated since that date. -
Ken de la Bastide: Indy 500 lives up to hype - again
For the second consecutive year the Indianapolis 500 demonstrated why it remains as “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing”.
Last year there was the dramatic finish when rookie J.R. Hildebrand crashed in the fourth corner on the final lap allowing the late Dan Wheldon to record his second victory. -
Kahne keeps Hendrick success rolling at Charlotte
Kasey Kahne powered to victory in the Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday night, taking NASCAR's longest race for the third time for his first win with Hendrick Motorsports.
-
Spurs strike first in West finals, win 19th in row
Manu Ginobili scored 26 points and the San Antonio Spurs won their 19th in a row to tie the NBA record for longest winning streak kept alive in the playoffs, beating the Oklahoma City Thunder 101-98 to open the Western Conference finals on Sunday night.
- More Sports Headlines
-
Police: 5-time Champ Johnny Tapia Found Dead
Native Americans' Olympic Medals Displayed in DC
Manning on Target at First Practice
Raw Video: Olympic Torch Relay Begins in England
Raw Video: Olympic Torch Passed to London
Selig: Oakland Move Might Be Considered
McNamee: Clemens, Canseco Had Steroids Talk
Laurie Fine: My Life Has Been Destroyed
MLB: Mets Get 2013 All Star Game
Bernie Fine's Wife to Sue ESPN
Kyrie Irving Named NBA's Top Rookie
McNamee Says He Gave Clemens Steroids in 1998
Phelps Looks to Add to Medal Haul in London
Raw Video: McNamee Arrives at Clemens Trial
Bulls Bounced From Playoffs
Former NFL Star Junior Seau Found Dead
NFL Suspends 4 Players for Saints' Bounties
Reigning U.S. Champ Eying Olympic Gold in London
Knicks Fans Disappointed in Stoudemire
